Tag: PUBG

  • PlayerUnknown’s Prologue: Go Wayback! Free Playtest Now Live

    PlayerUnknown’s Prologue: Go Wayback! Free Playtest Now Live

    Key Takeaways

    1. PUBG creator Brendan Greene founded PlayerUnknown Productions and is developing a new hardcore survival game called Prologue: Go Wayback!.
    2. The closed beta playtest for Prologue: Go Wayback! runs from May 7 to May 14, and players can join via the official Discord to request a key.
    3. The game focuses on body temperature as a critical survival factor, linking it to players’ hunger and thirst levels.
    4. Unique survival mechanics require players to use a complex process to start fires, enhancing the game’s realism.
    5. Prologue: Go Wayback! is part of a larger project called Project Artemis, featuring an Earth-sized map and utilizing procedural generation and machine learning.

    One of the most beloved games today, PUBG, was made by Brendan Greene, who later established his own studio, PlayerUnknown Productions. Their initial project, titled Prologue: Go Wayback!, was revealed last year. This upcoming hardcore survival game places a strong focus on body temperature. Currently, the game is undergoing another playtest that is free for anyone who joins the official Discord and asks for a key.

    Playtest Details

    The closed beta playtest for Prologue: Go Wayback! commenced on May 7 and will continue until May 14. Those who want to experience this early version of the game can visit the official Discord and request a key through the #playtest-signup channel. PlayerUnknown Productions is providing keys for both Steam and Epic Games Store.

    Insights from the Creators

    In a recent conversation with the Epic Games Store, Greene along with Creative Director Scott Davidson discussed Prologue: Go Wayback! and how it sets the stage for a larger project. The game utilizes machine learning for creating landscapes and is set in a wilderness filled with forests. It emphasizes body temperature, which is linked to other survival factors. “When your hunger and thirst decrease, you start to lose your ability to control your temperature, meaning your temperature will drop quicker,” Davidson stated.

    Unique Survival Mechanics

    Unlike typical survival games where players can easily craft a campfire, Go Wayback! requires a more intricate process to start a fire. “You must begin with bits of paper and cardboard, ignite those with sticks on top. Once the sticks catch fire, add logs on top, and those logs will burn over time. You then keep adding a few logs to maintain the fire, which will provide heat and keeps the warmth inside structures,” Davidson elaborated.

    Prologue: Go Wayback! will contribute to the development of Project Artemis, a more grand project by PlayerUnknown Productions, which is rumored to have an Earth-sized map. Using what the team refers to as “Guided Generation,” both Go Wayback! and Project Artemis will incorporate a blend of procedural generation, machine learning, and handmade art.

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  • PUBG 2025 Roadmap: Unreal Engine 5, User Content, and Updates

    PUBG 2025 Roadmap: Unreal Engine 5, User Content, and Updates

    Key Takeaways

    1. PUBG is transitioning to Unreal Engine 5, currently in pre-production, with more details to be shared later this year.
    2. The 2025 roadmap includes updates on user-generated content, gameplay updates, new modes, and world enhancements.
    3. New gameplay elements, including improved player actions and a new roguelike mode called “Project Cyclops,” are planned.
    4. User-generated content (UGC) will enter alpha testing this year, allowing players to create custom worlds and rules.
    5. An optimized version of PUBG for Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 is expected by late 2025, enhancing loading times and gameplay quality.

    PUBG is preparing to shift to Unreal Engine 5, and the developers have recently shared a roadmap indicating that the project is in the pre-production phase. More details about this transition will be revealed later this year. Last year, it was announced that PUBG would move from Unreal Engine 4 to UE5, but it appears the transition will take more time than anticipated. Additionally, the 2025 roadmap provides updates on user generated content (UGC) features, gameplay updates, new modes, and much more.

    Roadmap Video Highlights

    A video outlining the 2025 roadmap has been uploaded to the official PUBG Battlegrounds YouTube channel. This nearly 29-minute video covers various updates and features that the developers are currently focusing on, including the shift to UE5. It begins with information on “World updates,” which will introduce new ways for players to enjoy existing maps. This includes seasonal updates, special events, new atmospheres, and destructible terrain in Taego, Miramar, and Erangel.

    Exciting New Content

    New gameplay elements are also on the horizon, such as enhanced player actions, vehicles, items, and UI improvements. The developers are planning to introduce new modes while improving existing ones. They discussed a new roguelike mode named “Project Cyclops,” which is based on the PUBG framework, but no further details were provided about this new mode.

    User Generated Content

    As for User Generated Content (UGC), the developers announced that it will enter alpha testing this year. This feature will empower players to create their own worlds and rules for unique experiences. Players will be able to set various rules for different modes and design environments with the capability to place buildings and structures. Initially, this will be made available in Custom Match mode.

    Console Optimizations Coming Soon

    Console players have some great news too. By late 2025, an optimized version of PUBG for Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 will be released, boasting better loading times and a higher overall gameplay quality.

    Towards the conclusion of the video, the developers spoke about the transition to UE5, explaining that they are establishing the groundwork for this change. Currently, the project is in the pre-production phase, with the primary objective being to improve graphic quality before moving on to new features. They anticipate sharing updates on the transition within this year. However, it remains uncertain if the full-scale implementation will occur in 2025 or be delayed until 2026, with the latter appearing more plausible.

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  • Krafton Partners with OpenAI to Transform the Future of Gaming

    Krafton Partners with OpenAI to Transform the Future of Gaming

    Krafton, the famous creator behind the world-wide hit “PUBG: Battlegrounds,” is venturing into thrilling new areas in gaming with assistance from OpenAI. During a recent meeting in Seoul with OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, Krafton’s CEO, Kim Chang-han, talked about possible partnerships that could transform the gaming landscape.

    Enhancing NPC Intelligence

    The main topic of their talks was to use OpenAI’s advanced large language models (LLMs) for creating smart AI characters. These “virtual cooperative characters” (CPCs) aim to surpass the usual non-playable characters (NPCs) by having more natural and meaningful dialogues with players, which should enhance the overall gaming experience.

    Krafton’s AI Innovations

    This partnership is in line with Krafton’s recent breakthroughs in AI-focused gaming. Earlier in the year at CES 2025, they presented their own CPC technology developed along with Nvidia. This advancement is a major step forward that allows players to interact with AI characters in a more lively and realistic manner.

    Krafton intends to weave this sophisticated AI tech into both their existing and future gaming titles. The iconic “PUBG: Battlegrounds,” which made Krafton a household name globally, is set to gain from this collaboration, promising players more exciting and unpredictable gameplay. Furthermore, the upcoming life simulation game “inZOI,” slated for release later this year, will also feature these advanced AI capabilities, aiming to change the game genre.

    OpenAI’s Broader Ambitions

    Outside the gaming sphere, OpenAI is branching into hardware, robotics, AI chips, and quantum computing. Their recent trademark registrations indicate a keen interest in AI-powered consumer gadgets, such as smartwatches, AR/VR headsets, headphones, and humanoid robots that can learn new things.

    Additionally, OpenAI is teaming up with Broadcom and TSMC to create custom AI chips, with plans to launch them by 2026. Although these initiatives are still at a nascent stage, OpenAI is actively collaborating with partners to introduce AI-driven innovations to the market.

    This collaboration between Krafton and OpenAI signifies a pivotal move towards the future of gaming, where AI will increasingly shape immersive, interactive, and tailored experiences for gamers around the globe.

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